Labyrinth packing



Nov. 10, 1931. H. J. HANZLIK LABYRINTH PACKING F'ldD 9 1926 H.J. Hnnz l K INVENTOR WITNESS BY @,@M

ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED -STATES i PATENT fori-"ICE".

RY J..HANZLIK, F SWARTHMORE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASVSIGNOR TO WE'lSTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA Y LABYRINTH rAcKrNe Y Application kfiled. December 9, 1926. Serial 110.153,668. i

My invention relates to labyrinthpacking for -sealing the joint or clearance between a stationary and a rotating member, and it has for its object to increase the effectiveness as a fluid seal between the stationary structure and the 'rotor' of an elastic fluid turbinefor" example, betweenthe dummy piston and the dummy ring', and betweentliespindle and the casing, `Such packing embodies a large numbei," of projections or packing elements on `either the stationary or the rotating members, omas is common, on both of said members, the elements .being arranged in pairs with close clearance therebetween. d In accordancey with my invention, I in.- crease the resistance of the packing to the flow of fluid by providing projections or Grooves, or both, which deflect the fluid from the leakage points or clearances, causing it to follow `a tortuous path. I may also corrugate or serrate the surfaces of the packing elements and the members to further resist the leakage flow by friction.

I also reduce the opportunity for excessive heating and consequent damage due toaccidental rubbing by providing narrow connecting portions for free ends of thefpacking elements. This reduces the material through which heat'may be conducted and also'in7 l creases the heat radiating'surfaces.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a view, partially in section, of' one packing Y embodying my form of labyrinth invention; and, j

. Fig. e shows, in section, a modifiedform of packing. Y Referring to the drawings indetail, I show by Way of illustration a dummy piston or rotor 11, and having packing elements f2() thereon which may be formed integrally therewith. Surrounding the dummy pistonV element.

"' cylinder 10, formingv a part of the turbinev shown), and carrying the packing elements 17, secured therein in any suitable manner as by flanges 18. The elements17 register and cooperate'with the packing elements 2O to rprevent or reduce to a minimum leakage of fluid between the dummy piston and dummy rinO. 'lL-Bhe packing elements 20 are shown as having parallel side surfaces 24 and 25. "The l space 26 between adjacent elements permits expansion thereof in case ofoverheating due.

to accidental rubbing and also provides space for a medium to which the heat may be radiated from the surfaces 24` and 25.y The peripheral surface 27 of each element 20 is inclined inwardlyvin the directionl of leakage flow, the line thereof falling intermediate the outer andinner peripheries of the next ele-v. ment 20. Each element 2O has vcut therein a groove 21 on the side 24, the inner side 22 thereof being in approximate alignment or n l 4 registry with the surface 27 of the precedingV element 20. The bottoms of the grooves are e curvedand .the outer sides are preferably' parallel tothe inner sides. Each groove 21 extends across the greater vportion of the width ofan element 20, leaving only a narrow neck portion 28 for connecting the peripheral portion tothe body ofthe packing d The packing elements 17 carried by the dummy kring extend inwardly toward the dummy piston 20, the sides29 and .30 therej of converging to an edge 31, whichis disposed in close proximity to the surface27 of the S57`V To further' resist the flow of fluid' through 9,0

the packing structure, I haveshown the sides 29 andBO ofthe elements 17 and the'adja- Y cent surface 33 of the dummy ring 16 as ser- Y rated or corrugated, providing frictional resistance tothe flow ofthe flui d Y The operation of the Vabove construction is as follows, the path. of the fluid leakagev p being indicated by the arrowedrlinenonthe drawingsa'The fluid at the left side of the t vpacking structure, bein g ata greater pressure 17 ,then along the surface 33 ofthe dummyA ring and downwardly along the side 29 of the next element 17. As it nears the edge 31, it

will again be deflected by the projection 32,V

causing it again to change its courseand flow around said projection before it finally esv capes between thesecond pair of elements 17 and 20, where it will be directed by the inclined surface 27 to flow into. the next groove 21 and repeat-its tortuous path.

Each groove 21 alsozperfnins another function. It. separates theperipheral portion of the element 2O having the surface 27, from.v

the body of theelement 20, only a narrow neck 28 connecting `it thereto. In .case of. over heating due vto any cause,v for example, to accidental rubbing, the opportunity for trans initting the :heat to the body'of the packing element will be `.Sgreatly reduced due to its` narrow width. `The groove also providesadyditional surface `from ,whichsaid heat may be radiated by the peripheralportion.

Another important :advantage of the grooves 21 is thatthey permit a greater width of the elements 20. Duev kto unequal `heating and expansionof 'the stationary and rotating,parts,there will be a relative axial movement between theeleinentsl and the. elements. 20, and theeXtent `of such axial,

movement during which the elements remain v`in registry depends upon the width of ele.- ments 20. vHeretofore it has. been necessary to restrict the width of the elements 20 to provide for the radiation of heat upon. accidental rubbinglWith my construction the grooves 21 provide greater radiating surfaces. and` also reduce the communicating metal through which heat may be conducted to the .body of the elementsv20 and to the dummy piston 10. The `Velements 2O may therefore be made wider ,to insure registry of each` edge 31 with some portion of a cooperating .surface 27 at .all

times..

InIfig.V 2,1 show a `modied form of my invention showing alternating narrow and zwide Velements 17av and 176..,respectively,

which` cooperate, respectively with alternat- The peripheral surfaces 27a and-276 ofthe.

elements 20al ,and 206 are substantially cylindrical and cooperate, respectively with edges.

31a and `316 yof the elements 17a and 176..

Grooves--21aand 216 ,are providedxat the forward sides Vofthe elements-20a and 2.06

andthe peripheral edges 276 register with..

the ,inner surfaces .of the grooves 216;.The

elements 17 a and 176 are provided with forwardly extending projections 32a and 326 and the peripheral surfaces 27 a are preferably in line with the outer surfaces of the n projections 326. The interior surfaces of the carrierring 16 and the surfaces .0f the', elements 17a and 1.7 6 are serrated asi-heretofore described.

Fluid leaking between the edges 31a and the surfaces .27a pursuesfawhilin'gor eddy- .v

ing path and -ii'nallyvesc'apes between. .the following edge 316 and surface 276 and enters the groove 21a on the next succeeding packing elenient20a, fluid being reversed or redirected by tlie latter to iinpinge upon the serrated surfaces before escaping-between theA next edge 31a and surface 27d. r

From the above description itwillbe seen that I have devised a labyrinthpacking struc?.y ture wherein the fluid leakage is required to.

followua very tortuous path. Obviously this will retard the flow .of such leakage-to avery e large extent.

It will also be seen that .I have reduced likelihood of damage to the,rotor.froinoveir.

packing elementsof the dummyV piston.

.heating by increasing the, radiatingsurface` and reducing the connecting portion through which Vsuch lheat niay lbe ,.transnfiitted, to .the

forms, it :will be obviousto those skilledV in ,the art that itisiiot so limited, but is susceptible .of various .otherchanges and 'mod-ifi@ations,4 without departing from the. spirit;thereof,` and I desire,.the refore, that only -suchflimif` tations shall be placedtherenpon nas are` iin-M j posed ,by the` prior `art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims. 1

I claim as myinvention... 1. In a l labyrinth packing const rnctioiny the combination. of a stationary ineinbeiava yrotatable;ineinber7 ,a plurality rof packing elements carried by said stationary ineinher and a plurality of packing elements carried by said rotatablefinembor. and registering with :the first-mentioned. packing, elements, 1,

one of. said packing.elements-.carried by j. the

rotatable .niefinber having a groovedisposed fluid from the Clearance between said .grooved in the path 0f udleakage from an adjacent .pair of packingelementsvand de'fleetingsaidl 115 1 `packing element and its registeringpacking element, the clearance between the packing Aelements 0f Said adjacent.pairlvbeingformed,f to direct the leakage therefrom .into jsaid j groove.

ing wide and narrow elements 20a and 206.

2. In a labyrinth packing construction,the..A

combination ofa stationary member, arotat ablenieniber, the elenieiitsofeach pail-hav; 5

ing. a closeclearance therebetween. onecle. nient of a? pair vhaving a `groove disposed .in

the direction of iuid leakage between the elements of the preceding pair and deflecting said fluid from the clearance betweenthe elements of said first pair, the other elements of said iirst pair havinga projection near tbeclearance between said pair for again defiectling the leakage iow from said clearance.

3. In a labyrinth packing construction, the

combination of a stationary member, a rotat-Y ing member, a plurality of pairs of packing elements carried by said members, one element of each pair being carried by the stationary member and the other by the rotating` member, the'elements of each pair having a close clearance therebetween, one element of a pair having means disposed in the direction of fluid leakage between the elements of the preceding pair and delecting said fluid from the clearance between the elements of said first pair, the other element of said first pair n having a projection near the clearance between said pair for again deflecting the leakage iow from said clearance.

4. In a labyrinth packing construction,- the combination of a stationary member carrying packing elements, a rotatable member carrying packing elements registering and coopv erating with the stationary packing elements, one pair of registering packing elements forming a packing constriction which directs the flow of fluid leakage therethrough against f the rotatable element of the next pair intermediate the inner and outer peripheries thereof, and a groove 1n said last-mentioned fi 4element for deflecting said flow away IOHI the clearance between the last-mentioned pair of packing elements', said groove being on the side of the element facing the iirstmentioned pair of packing elements and being disposed in line with the path of the fluidl leakage as it leaves the clearance between the packing elements of the first-mentioned pair.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this twenty-third day of November, 1926. s

HENRY J. vI-IALNZIJIK. 

